Sap-gatherer.



E. J. FILLINGIM.

SAP GATHERER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1912.

1,061,278. Patented May 13, 1913.

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ELIJ'AH J. FILLINGIM, OF PAGE, FLORIDA.

SAP-GATHERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1913.

Application filed July 20, 1912. Serial No. 710,671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIJAI-I J. FILLINGIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pace, in the county of Santa Rosa and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sap-(hitherers, of which the following is a specification.

This device for receiving turpentine and other sap from trees is so constructed that it is adjustable to fit any angle of groove or streak made in a tree with a hack, and the apron of the device is hollowed or curved on the upper edge to so tit the streak as to prevent sap from running down and wasting behind the apron and to so lit over the lower edge of the groove as to have the proper pitch to direct the sap into the cup connected with the apron.

The apron is so arranged that a cup may be detachably supported thereon, so that a cup when filled may be replaced by another without disturbingthe apron. By supporting the cup on the apron, the necessity of driving nails or the like in a tree to support the cup is obviated, and the objection to nails in timber when placed in a saw-mill is avoided.

When read in connection with the description herein, the details of construction and arrangement of parts contemplated by the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, wherein a preferable embodiment of the invention is disclosed, for purposes of illustration.

WVhile the device shown herein is con sidered to now represent the best embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that it merely is illustrative of the principles thereof, that the parts can be organized variously within the limits prescribed by the claim hereinafter without departing in the least from, the nature and spirit of the invention, and that it is not the intention to be limited necessarily to the precise delineation herein in interpretation of the claim.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views of the drawing, of which- Figure 1 is a top view; Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 8-3, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4; is a front view.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, it will be seen that the apron of the device is formed of two sections, 5, 5, lapped at the middle portion of the apron and there pivotally held together by having an upper end of a substantially U-shaped hanger member (3, preferably of stout wire, passed through the lapping portions and held thereto by having the end riveted or in any other suitable manner.

supported by the hanger member, and the cup may be slipped oil the hanger for removal. and another cup slipped on. The cup is prevented from tilting by contact of one of its upper edges with the under side of the apron.

The two portions of the apron being pivotally held together, they may be swung on the pivot to cause the upper edge 8 of the apron to conform to the shape of the tree from which sap is to be gathered. This makes the device susceptible of being secured to a tree on the ridge side where a box would be cut, whereby it will receive,

when attached to a .t'urpentine-bearing tree, more turpentine than an apron applied to the Hat or hollow side of a tree. All ordinary forms of aprons that are attached by making incisions necessarily are put in the flat or hollow side of a tree, as they are not shaped to [it the ridge or bulge side.

The apron is secured to a tree by staples, which pass through holes 9 in the edge of the apron, and which may easily be withdrawn from the tree on removal of the apron from the tree or to another position thereon. As it is necessary to remove the staples to remove the apron, the availability of the tree for saw-mill purposes is not interfered with.

Having thus described my invcntiomwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A sap-gathering apron comprising sections lapped at the middle portion of the apron and pivotally held together by having a cup-supporting member passed therethrough.

In testimony whereof I alllx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIJAH J. FILLINGIM.

llitnesses ()ris CHAPMAN, J as. T. MoNAm.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

A cup 7 is embraced as to its bottom and sides and 

